About Food Matters
Discover the Food Matters story and how Filmmakers James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch turned a health crisis into a global health movement.
Our Story
Where It All Began
Our story begins with our family. In 2003, James' father, Roy, was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. At the time, we didn't realize how much this was going to impact all of our lives. We thought we could outsource treatment to the medical profession and move on.
For the next five years, Roy's days were spent in bed, and his nights were often filled with panic attacks, an anticipated side effect of his medications. The vicious cycle continued as Roy was on two to three medications for his condition and another two to three medications to curb the side effects. He had gained more than 55 pounds, was increasingly lethargic, and unhappier than ever. What seemed to confuse us was that not one medical professional suggested he change his diet or suggested alternate ways to handle his stress. Their advice was this: take the pills, and we'll see how it goes. Roy's health was deteriorating further, and as he continued to consult with his doctors, they continued to prescribe more medications.
We knew we had to intervene, but every attempt to help was met with keen resistance. “These doctors have spent their entire lives training to help me. What makes you think you can do better?” As Roy's health and spirit spiraled, we continued to look for answers.
We grabbed every book we could find and started researching. We soon started to learn about the power of nutrition for healing. We also discovered that healthcare, food, and agricultural industries were not particularly concerned about our health and instead focused primarily on profits. We couldn't believe what we were uncovering and decided to formalize our knowledge through the Global College of Natural Medicine's Nutritional Consultant program. After completing our studies, we felt even more confident that we could help Roy. We started sending him some of the books we had been studying. Unfortunately, getting him motivated to read three hundred pages on natural healing remedies was like trying to make water flow uphill. We needed a better way.
Film · 2008
Food Matters: You Are What You Eat
This is how we came up with the idea for our first documentary film, Food Matters. If we couldn't get Roy to read about nutrition and natural health, we figured we could probably convince him to watch a film on the subject. We knew he needed to see natural health in a new light so we decided to make a film that would restore the image of the wonderful men and women who, through their life-changing work, live up to Hippocrates's famous saying, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
We invested our life's savings into making Food Matters. We bought some film equipment and traveled around the world—from Holland, Laurentine's home country, and England to the East and West Coasts of the United States, and then Australia—to interview all of the best doctors, nutritionists, scientists, and wellness experts we had been learning from during this whole journey.
After months of filming and diving deep into the world of health and nutrition, we decided it was time to bring our work home—to Roy. Armed with raw, unedited footage, we told him we wouldn't leave until he started to heal. As a family, we sat together, watching hours of interviews with experts. Before long, something clicked for Roy. One particular story struck a nerve: it was about a medication, one he was taking, that had a known side effect of suicidal thoughts. It was his worst fear realized. Roy couldn't fathom how the pharmaceutical and medical industries could knowingly produce and promote something with such devastating risks.
The realization was a turning point. For years, modern medicine's promise of “better living through chemistry” had only left him feeling worse. That night, Roy shifted his mindset. He began to understand the profound truth: you are what you eat.
With his consent, we dove into what we call a “fridge audit.” Out went the processed foods, artificial diet products, and factory-farmed meat and dairy. In their place, we introduced real, nutrient-dense whole foods and designed a detoxification plan tailored to his needs. Roy also began a carefully monitored natural supplement program, helping him gradually transition off his medications—a step he took despite his doctors' objections and dire warnings.
Within months, the transformation was undeniable. Roy was vibrant again. He was no longer bedridden, and his energy returned. The anxiety and depression that had plagued him lifted. He slept peacefully and woke up ready to take on the day. He even began jogging—a joy he hadn't experienced in years. What seemed impossible just a short time earlier became a reality, all through the power of real food and natural healing. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which had gripped him for over five years, finally loosened its hold.
Watching Roy's recovery inspired us to take action. We knew we had to share these truths far and wide. In May 2008, we released Food Matters, a documentary highlighting the critical flaws in the food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. Since then, it has reached millions of viewers worldwide—in homes, theaters, hospitals, community centers, and even airlines—spreading a message of hope, empowerment, and the undeniable connection between what we eat and how we heal.
Film · 2012
Hungry for Change: Your Health is In Your Hands
What amazed us most about Roy's recovery wasn't just his transformation—it was the reaction from those around him. At family gatherings, people would say, “Roy, you look incredible! Your skin is glowing, you've lost so much weight, and you even look younger! What's your secret?” But instead of asking how he overcame his illness, they focused on his appearance and how they could achieve similar results. That's when we realized there was another story to tell—one that could help even more people.
We saw a pattern: countless people were trapped in cycles of fad diets and quick fixes, struggling with bloating, cravings, skin issues, emotional eating, and high blood pressure—signs of a body out of balance. Instead of finding solutions, they became victims of what we call the diet trap: the endless cycle of promises and letdowns from diet products and processed foods.
The truth? Real health and transformation come from fresh, nutrient-rich whole foods that bring the body into balance. That's why we created Hungry for Change—to expose the deceptive tactics of the food and diet industries and help people break free.
To bring this vision to life, we partnered with leading health experts and individuals who overcame years of unhealthy habits to find vibrant health, energy, and lasting weight loss. Their stories prove a better life is possible. Hungry for Change shares how you can take control of your health, break free from the diet trap, and discover how real, nourishing food can transform your body and your life.
Docu-series · 2018 - 2020
Transcendence: Live Life Beyond The Ordinary
As we expanded the library on our streaming channel Food Matters TV (now merged with Gaia, Inc), we realized wellness was far more expansive than we initially thought. While our first two films, Food Matters and Hungry for Change, focused on the power of nutrition, we came to understand that food is only one piece of the puzzle. Even the best diet can't deliver optimal health if the body is stuck in a chronic state of stress or fight-or-flight. True wellness requires addressing the mind, body, and spirit together.
In January 2016, this realization deepened after an extraordinary encounter. Fresh from a silent retreat, James received an email from Jelena Djokovic, wife of tennis legend Novak Djokovic. She invited James to a tennis match and a meeting with Novak himself. By the next morning, he was on a plane. Novak and Jelena shared how our documentaries had profoundly influenced their health journey and Novak's rise to become the #1 tennis player in the world. Our conversation sparked an idea: what if we created a documentary that explored how the world's most extraordinary individuals achieve and sustain greatness—and how everyday people could apply these insights?
This vision sent us on a global journey, capturing interviews with world-renowned doctors, athletes, thought leaders, and everyday people who had overcome incredible odds. The insights we gathered were so transformative that a single documentary couldn't contain them. Instead, we created a 2-season, 10-part docu-series: Transcendence: Live Life Beyond the Ordinary.
This groundbreaking series goes beyond nutrition to explore the power of mindset, self-discovery, and resilience. It features deeply personal stories of individuals who have faced immense challenges, healed trauma, and transcended limitations to live with purpose. With practical tools and inspiring lessons, Transcendence shows how anyone can overcome obstacles, align with their passions, and create a life of meaning and fulfillment.
It's a journey of empowerment, one that invites you to step into your own potential and live beyond the ordinary.
Programs · 2020
7 Day Juice Detox and 21 Day Clean Eating Program
Amidst the creation of these documentaries, we didn't want to just leave people with information, we wanted to give them practical ways to apply what they had learned. We started with a simple 7-Day Juice Detox - a powerful way to cleanse and recharge. Packed with vibrant, nutrient-rich juices, this program supports your body's natural detoxification processes while flooding your cells with essential vitamins and minerals. It's the perfect way to kickstart your health journey, giving your digestive system a much-needed break and leaving you feeling lighter, clearer, and more energized.
We later released our 21-Day Clean Eating Program, designed to make healthy cooking tasty and easy. The 21-Day Clean Eating Program is more than just a meal plan—it's a lifestyle shift. Over three weeks, you'll learn how to incorporate wholesome, nutrient-dense meals into your daily routine. From delicious recipes to practical tips, we guide you every step of the way to create lasting habits that fuel your body and mind. Whether your goal is to lose weight, boost energy, or simply feel your best, this program empowers you to take control of your health—one meal at a time.
Education · 2020
The Food Matters Institute
Since 2008, we have been inspiring millions around the world to use the powerful science of nutrition to take back their health. We know now that the best way to do this is through education and conversation. So in 2020, we created the Food Matters Institute, home to two nutrition courses: the Food Matters Nutrition Certification Course and the 90-Day Root Cause Healing Program.
The Nutrition Certification Course is a self-paced program built for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of nutrition and natural health. It includes 10 modules combining evidence-based research with time-tested wisdom from leading health experts, covering holistic nutrition, detoxification, gut health, stress management, and more. Graduates receive an internationally accredited certification in nutrition, along with the knowledge and confidence to practice and coach others.
The 90-Day Root Cause Healing Program is built for anyone who wants to address the root cause of their own chronic symptoms through a deliberate, 10-step method — the order in which the body actually heals, rather than a pile of information to work through alone. The program includes live coaching with James and Laurentine, and lessons from 50+ world-class experts including Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Bruce Lipton, and Dr. Christiane Northrup, guiding you through gut repair, hormone rebalancing, nervous system reset, immune support, and more. Graduates also receive an internationally accredited certification in nutrition. Whether you're managing a chronic condition, supporting a loved one's healing, or simply wanting to feel like yourself again, the program offers a structured path that actually holds.
Our goal is to build a global community of health enthusiasts, professionals, and changemakers transforming lives through food, lifestyle, and holistic health, and to give people the tools to build a business helping others do the same.
Program · 2026
21-Day Hormone & Stress Reset Program
This program was born out of Laurentine's own experience with sleepless nights, brain fog, and anxiety that no amount of “doing everything right” seemed to fix. Working alongside experts like Dr. Libby Weaver, Christa Orecchio, and Nat Kringoudis, she realized that chronic stress was quietly hijacking her hormones, and that she wasn't alone. Inside our community, thousands of women were describing the exact same thing: exhausted but wired at night, stuck with stubborn belly fat, and told it was just part of getting older.
The 21-Day Hormone & Stress Reset Program is the result of our research and tried and tested approach to naturally managing hormones. It's a done-for-you food and lifestyle reset built on the 9-Principle Reset Method, covering cortisol, blood sugar, and hormone balance in the sequence the body actually responds to. The program includes 50+ hormone-supporting recipes, full meal plans and shopping lists, and a practical guide to understanding your hormones, with no restrictive dieting and no calorie counting required.
Book · 2022
The Food Matters Cookbook
After years of sharing the Food Matters principles of eating and creating hundreds and hundreds of healthy recipes, we decided it was time to write a book to share our favorite recipes, health tips, and more. The Food Matters Cookbook was published with Hay House as a simple gluten-free guide to transforming your health, one meal at a time. Containing 125+ gluten-free recipes, this cookbook shares practical ways you can transform your health for good.
Online School · 2022
Wellcademy: Creating a Purpose-Led Business
After launching the Food Matters Nutrition Certification Course and reflecting on our own personal journey of studying nutrition and turning it into a global wellness business, we knew there was more we could do to help those who were interested in doing the same. But starting an online business is so different to starting an online wellness business that's focused on helping others. That's where the Wellness Business Course entered the picture. In 2022, we launched Wellcademy as the world's first school for online business education.
Film · 2024
Love Over Money: The Man Who Walked Away from Baskin-Robbins
We believe in the power of storytelling and the change it can inspire to live a healthier, happier life. In 2024, we released a documentary featuring the late John Robbins, who was the heir apparent to the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream empire. Love Over Money tells the story of someone who had everything but walked away from it all. This documentary will open your eyes to the truths of the modern meat and dairy industry but more than anything, it will show you the ripple effect of going against the status quo to stand up for what you believe in.
Our journey started with the desire to help save James’ father, and has since turned into a global community of millions of people that we get to share the lifesaving message of nutrition with.
We're still on a mission to empower individuals and communities to take control of their health and well-being. Through inspiring films, transformative programs, and evidence-based education, we're proving that simple changes can lead to profound results. Whether you're just beginning your wellness journey or are looking to deepen your knowledge, our goal is to provide the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to thrive. Together, we can create a healthier, happier world—one meal, one mindset, and one moment at a time. Welcome to the Food Matters family. Let's grow, heal, and transform together.
In good health,
